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COMBINE-'DBUTTON AND PASTENBR. No. 293.802. Patented Feb; 19, 11884.

7725 2166066, I v jflrehivzar' I dT -i g' N ETERS. Plmlo-Lnh m hen Washington. D c

lN' I TED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN-A. s'MITH, JR, 0F PROVIDENCE, nuonn. ISLAND.

COMBINED BUTTON AND FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters. Patent No. 293,802, dated February 19, 1884.

i A Application filed December 31, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Combined Buttons and Fastenings, of which thefollowing description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to combined buttons and fastenings, whereby a button is secured. to any suitable material,without the aid of sewing, by causing the prong or prongs of the fastenin g device to penetrate and be subsequently clinched to the material. Heretofore in such combined buttons and fastenings the prong or prongs of the fastening device have been so connected to the button, or so disposed with relation to each other, that a strong, firm fastening is unattainable with the use of such devices; and because of such disposition of the prongs an injurious leverage is exerted on said prongs when strain is applied to the attached button, so that the prongs are soon pulled or torn from the material to which the button had been secured. To obviate this, in a degree, metal Washers or plates have been used in connection with such devices, said washers or plates being placed against the under side of the material in such manner as to permit the prongs to pass through them and be clinched against the face or outer'surface of same.

My invention has for its object to provide a combined button and fastening wherein the prongs of the fastening device will be so connected to the button and so disposed with relation thereto and to one another that the button will be strongly and rigidly held to afabric, to prevent injurious leverage on the fastenin g device when strain is applied to the button; and, further, to dispense with the necessity of re-enforcing plates.

To this end myinvention consists of a leather, leather-board, pulp, or paper button provided with a fastener composed of a head-bar and three or more straight prongs, said head-bar being embedded in the button,and the prongs passing through the said button and projecting from the under side or bottom thereof, substantially as hereinafter described, and particulary pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved icombined button and fastening; Fig. 2, avertical longitudinal section thereof, showing the fastening in elevation and the prongs passed through a piece of leather or other material; and Fig. 3, a perspective view of the fastening device.

The button, a is composed of 1 eather,leather-v board, pulp, paper, or other suitable analogous material, and the fastening,which consists of the angular head-bar I) and three substantially-straight prongs, b, projecting from one side or edge of the head-bar, is forced into the button a from the .top while said button is in a softened or plastic condition,so that the prongs will project through the button and from its lower surface or bottom, whereupon the button and fastener is subjected to pressure in a suitable die to shape the button and force the material composing same about and around the fastening, to cause the parts to become firmly fixed With relation to each other; and, further, to embed the head-bar b into the button a, so that when the combined button and fastening is completed for use the said headbar will be hidden from sight. a

Instead of a neck, which is usually formed integrally with the button-head a, I prefer to provide an annulus or short tube, 0;, which encircles the prongs. b at the base or bottom of thefbutton, as clearly shown in the drawings, by which the button is caused to standa proper distancefrom the surface of the material to which it may be attached,and,which further permits a lace, string, or tie to be used in connection with the button, if desired.

It will be noticed that the unbent prongs, b b

are partially embedded in the button a, and are rigidly connectedto the head-bar b,which is wholly embedded in said button, and that said prongs are triangularly disposed with rebutton provided with three or more substantially-straight integral prongs partially embedded in the button and projecting from its bottom, substantially as and for the purpose 5 set forth.

2. The button a, provided with the metallic fastening consisting of a head-bar, I), and the straight prongs b, the headbar b wholly, and the prongs Z) partially,embedded in the but- IO ton, and said prongs projecting from the bottom of the button, and the tube or annulus c, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- I 5 scribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J R. \Vitnesses:

GEO. XV. PRExTien, JAS. F. TIIAYER. 

